By Jackie Todd, office of Media Relations
The annual United Way campaign kicked off at Clemson today with an ambitious goal.
“For 2015, we have set an ambitious goal for our university campaign: $110,000, “ said President Jim Clements. “I would like to see us meet that goal and surpass it.”
Through the generosity of the university’s faculty and staff, Clemson surpassed last year’s $100,000 goal, raising more than $104,000 for local United Way organizations.
How it works
Each department at Clemson has a faculty or staff team leader who will contact the United Way office to schedule information meetings and distribute United Way information to their colleagues.
Those who want to donate should fill out a United Way pledge form and email the completed form to ldoss@clemson.edu, or fax to 656-4235, or mail to United Way Campaign, 103 Sikes Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-5016.
Participants can select whether they want their contributions to be taken via payroll deduction or through a one-time gift to United Way. Participants who currently donate by payroll deduction and want to continue at that level do not need to complete a pledge form. However, faculty and staff who currently donate and would like to increase their contribution should complete a new pledge form.
The form also allows faculty and staff to designate their gift to a particular county. For example, if an employee lives in Greenville and wants their contribution to benefit those in Greenville County, they can select that option on the pledge form.
How it impacts
It’s closer than you think. Serving as president of United Way of Pickens County for more than 20 years, Julie Capaldi recalled that her first “homeless case” involved a Clemson University employee.
“Because the woman had a teenaged child, the shelters would not take them in as a whole family – they wanted to split them up,” she said.
According to Capaldi, the family was able to remain together because the United Way paid for a room at a local hotel until a family member agreed to take the family in.
“People don’t realize that their donations can directly impact people and issues in their very own communities,” said Capaldi. “It could be your neighbor, your friend or even your colleague.”
Clemson’s United Way campaign ends Dec. 5. For more information, contact Leslie Doss at ldoss@clemson.edu.
View a video from President and Mrs. Clements here.
